[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts music review of Kaiwei’s “Reprocessor” album.
Taiwanese native Calvin “Kai-Wei” Chang’s music is a beautiful hybrid of installation, performance, soundscape, pop and dreamscape.
His music has been the soundtrack for fashion shows, art installations and theatre projects. Are movies next I wonder? The overall effect of this inspired sound manipulation is overtly cinematic and strangely meditative.
I am fascinated by how he works, not in isolation but by immersing himself in the bustle of the world all around him. Each track is a musical movement, a commentary in musical notes and fluid sounds and emotions.
His music reminiscent of Joe Hisaishi, or Philip Glass or Ryuichi Sakamoto or Thomas Dolby, but with something entirely his own. He uses hundreds of sounds, all progressively and electronically manipulated, but the organic essence still remains. It’s quite bewitching.
Listening to this album is like a gorgeous sound bath. And if you allow it, the music seems to trigger hidden parts of your mind, opening up memories and feelings…it’s deeply moving and transcendental.
“Reprocessor” is exactly what its name conjures…a mercurial alchemy of precious live recordings of vocals and instruments and sounds of the world all reworked and forged into something else entirely.
Something intricately and purposefully recycled…up-cycled really. It’s all completely intentional. Like growing an apple limb on an orange tree, or creating new exotic blooms by merging strains of flowers. It feels curated, not chaotic, although there is a sublime element of chaos…like life.
I absolutely loved Kaiwei’s “Reprocessor” album and I think it might become my music for the holiday season in fact. For a moment or two making sense and beauty out of this crazy and confusing world.
Album pre-orders are available via Bandcamp.
Musician Names/Instruments:
Luisa Bressan/Electronics, Flute
Neeladri Ghosh/Electronics, Saxophone
Nick Saia/Guitar
Producer Name(s): Calvin Chang (Self)
Similar/RIYL:
Nicolas Jaar – Cenizas
Oneohtrix Point Never – Replica
Forest Swords- Compassion
Nicolas Jaar – Pomegranates
Genre(s): Progressive electronic, ambient, glitch, industrial
Follow Kaiwei:
Official Website: Kaiwei.cargo.site
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/kai-wei-chang-418414804
Artist Contact Email: calvin199710@gmail.com